Best viewed large :-).

Male Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa) – Devon, UK

Canon 50D
Canon 300mm F4 IS plus 1.4 x Extender and Canon Extension Tube EF 25 II
1/100
F13
ISO 400
Tripod
AV Mode, Evaluative Metering dialed to -1

Text adapted from – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Damselfly

This damselfly is found in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Both males and females have a metallic green colour and when resting its wings are usually half opened. The Emerald Damselfly can survive up to 30 minutes under water.

One of the UK’s larger damselflies, this species is most common in July and August. It is often found by ponds and lakes (particularly if the water is brackish), and is very rarely seen along flowing water. Emerald Damselflies like to perch among reeds, their colour providing good camouflage. They are not as strong a fliers as Common Blue or Large Red Damselflies, but they are more likely to be seen on misty, rainy days then those species. When disturbed they usually do not fly very far, landing on another perch a few yards away. Their habit of perching with their wings half open is characteristic of the family Lestidae.

After mating they stay paired for egg-laying where the female can remain submerged for 30 min. They overwinter as eggs and the lava hatch out in spring and then develop rapidly, in as little as 8 weeks.